Your carry is spotted in a restaurant. What would you do?

[PALADIN85020]

Him - "What in the world do you think you're doing in here with that?"

Me - "Because an unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not easily defeated by fleeing from it."

Jeff Cooper is still alive and well from his writings! That's one of my favorite quotes from the gunner's guru!

 

[cmort666]

Jeff Cooper is still alive and well from his writings! That's one of my favorite quotes from the gunner's guru!

Of course to somebody who doesn't believe that you should ever defeat ANYBODY, be it a junkie with a box cutter or Hitler, it won't make any sense.

 

[DrMark]

I would attempt to politely end the conversation, saying as little as reasonably possible, involving the manager if necessary.

Law in VA is that you can't carry in any place that serves alcohol. Some places have laws against 'brandishing' as well; I am not sure what that consists of except that if you carry nobody should know about it.

As has been pointed out, since 1995 in VA you cannot conceal in a restaurant that serves alcohol. This leads to the common "Virginia Tuck," whereby a concealed carrier lifts his cover garment and tucks it behind his gun/holster while entering a restaurant, in order to comply with the law.

Since I often carry, and I strive to follow the law, I have open carried in restaurants many times. I've never had an issue, and the only comments I've received have been positive.

We've finally gotten this 1995 change reversed... as of 1 July 2010, we'll be able to conceal (or still open carry) in restaurants that serve alcohol.

 

[wnr700]

In South Carolina you could be arrested for carrying in an eating establishment that serves alchohol... so I guess my response would be dependent upon whether I was violating the law.

 

[Model29Lover]

I agree

Isn't the above statement a total contradiction?
If you're in a place that serves beer you probably shouldn't be armed in the first place.
And also...how can you "Be Safe" if you're armed & drinking? ~

I agree! One doesn't deserve to have the right to carry, if one doesn't respect that right. I suggest changing that behavior immediately and save yourself some grief down the road, Skeeziks. If something happened and a variation of that story was on the 6 o'clock news, all of the law-abiding citizens that are CC people would be lumped into a category of being criminals with licenses to carry!!!! You represent all of us when you strap on your weapon, so make us proud, don't make us look like common criminals!!!

 

[Sprefix]

CCW showing............

I would thank the person for letting me know and tell them to have a good and safe day. If they persisted in a negative manner, I would inform them that I'm within my rights and to kindly leave me alone or face a call to the local police department for harassment. IF they continue to get stupid, inform the management that one of you will be leaving the establishment very soon and allow him the choice of who it is. Sprefix

 

[mkk41]

Here in PA open carry is legal . but the issuing authorities (county sheriffs) strongly suggest that you do not carry open or concealed in places that serve alcohol. Ya might get a disturbing the peace citation , which should get tossed , but who wants the hassle?

Well , there is a small faction in PA that like to gather and go carrying openly in places they think will cause the most ruckus. I call 'em Open Carry Clowns.

 

[nostraDONus]

I'd say 'it wasn't this gun' and go back to eating.

Another pearl of wisdom from Sip.

 

[Mr. Squinty]

Here in Alberta, a concealed carry permit is almost impossible to obtain.

However, I am a criminal defence lawyer and here's my advice.

If you have a CCW permit, keep it it readily at hand. And in the above situation, you should quickly produce the license and say,

" I am legally armed and I'm sorry that I allowed my firearm to show. Thank you for telling me because I would not want to alarm anyone"

And I would be as soft spoken and as non-threatening as possible.
In any situation that in any way involves a firearm, you want to be as soft-spoken and as polite as can be.

Now if the other party kicks up a fuss and is a *******, let him be the only one that behaves that way. You are in a restaurant and the other members of the public are all potential witnesses should the police ever be called.

And if you are in armed and in a restaurant you should also never consume any alcohol at all. Not even one sip of wine.

I would recommend that your behaviour be even more circumspect and even more polite than usual.

Mr. Squinty

 

[Skeeziks]

Here in Alberta, a concealed carry permit is almost impossible to obtain.

However, I am a criminal defence lawyer and here's my advice.

If you have a CCW permit, keep it it readily at hand. And in the above situation, you should quickly produce the license and say,

" I am legally armed and I'm sorry that I allowed my firearm to show. Thank you for telling me because I would not want to alarm anyone"

That is the LAST thing you'd wanna do!

You never show your permit to anyone except the police; and even then, only if they demand that you produce it.

 

[buckeyeshooter1]

I'd tell him to return to his table, keep his opinion to himself and let me enjoy my meal.

 

[yashua-p]

I really don't think that the Fl law is grey. Don't sit in or around the bar. Stay in the part that is obviously for the restaurant.

yashua

 

[retiredtech]

It could cause a LOT of trouble

the world is full of nosey people, i just try to keep mine coverd and out of sight, it could cause alot of trouble and mess up a great night on the town.

Nevada Slaying of Army veteran shocks friends; Four witnesses contradict police account : Veterans Today

 

[MarshallDodge]

I would tell him that I am sorry about his son but that a gun did not kill his son, a bad guy did, and as long as there are bad guys you will be carrying the best method that you know of to win the battle against a bad guy.

 

[MaximumLawman]

"You're carrying a gun. I hate guns. A gun killed my son. What in the world do you think you're doing in here with that?"

You glance at your piece, and sure enough, your covering garment has hitched up, and the gun sure enough shows.

What would be your response to this beginning of what could be a heated exchange?

I'd say: "You're Italian! I hate Italians! Italians killed my son!"
Or: "You're Japanese! I hate Japanese! Japanese killed the US auto industry!"
Or: "That dog in the parking lot is licking its nuts!"
Or: "These cans! He hates these cans!"

There's all sorts of things you could say.

 

[feralmerril]

Forget all the cute answers. In the real world I would guess in 95 out of a 100 times the person that would ask would be a LEO and likely a gung ho one.

 

[jagen heie]

the gun didnt the bullet did. and i have its twin right here wanna see your son again?

 

[Dodgethis1]

sounds to me the guy that noticed the gun being visible is looking for trouble and should only have politly make the other guy aware of his weapon being visible and thats it, but the guy instead wanted the guy with the gun to know of his misfortune and felt his attitude was justifiable. What if the guy with the gun had the same cocky attitude? My answer to him would be something to the effect " I am sorry my gun was visible anddont mean to offend any one but I do have the right to carry and I am a CCW permit holder. Please forgive me and Thank you for pointing this to my attention. My condolences on your son sir. God bless you and try to enjoy the rest of your day.

 

[Bratastic007]

"I'm sorry to hear about your son, and thanks for letting me know my gun was exposed. I do have a permit to carry, and didn't mean to cause a scene or disturb anyone's evening."

If he keeps it up, I'd probably say, "It's clear you and I don't share the same opinion on the issue of gun rights. This isn't the time or place to have that discussion, and I'd appreciate being left in peace. Thanks."

If he just flat out refused to allow me to de-escalate the situation and be left in peace to enjoy my meal, I would ask the waiter or waitress to get the maitre-de. Sorting out unruly patrons is their job, not mine.

 

[f8 crusader]

If your concealed weapon is accidently exposed and noticed by someone then your not carrying your weapon properly concealed, your either using the wrong holster, the wrong weapon or both, oviously the cloth's that you are wearing should dictate what holster/weapon combination you should use, it's really too basic.
I have 6 different holster/weapon combinations to fit what I am wearing.
I could be wrong....